Like fine wines, Picard and I have aged together since the series ended in the nineties.
Patrick Stewart is an arguably once in a lifetime actor, and adds value to any production he's part of. It is he, more than anyone, who made The Next Generation so enduring. Made it so, if you will.
I am a fan of science fiction, but not of all things sci-fi, or even all Star Trek iterations. But Picard and company's travels truly were the peak of the genre. Things synergistic that we may not be able to put our fingers on made the series so engaging. Rather like that fine wine that the Picard family vineyard undoubtedly produces in our galaxy, just a few blinks of an eye from here. I look forward to enjoying the series as it continues to go where no one has gone before. Play long and prosper.
176
I was watching The View Wednesday and Patrick Stewart was the guest. He got the four panelists to shut up, which isn’t easy. Speaking for the Picard management team he invited her to be in season two as Guinan. Season two is already approved. You should’ve seen her smile. It was like the smile she showed in The Color Purple. She even teared up. Now we just have to get John Delancey as Q as he always adds a twist.
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@Suburbs
Make it so!
41
@Suburbs Of course, you meant Whoopi Goldberg! We know that, but you should have included her name.
48
"Flat-footed corniness" is a better description of most of the original "Star Trek" series or every Ferengi episode of "Deep Space Nine." The seven year run of "ST: The Next Generation" had some very well-written, thoughtful pieces like "The Measure of a Man," which explored the relationship between humans and new life forms. I still get chills remembering how Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) opened Picard's eyes to 24th century slavery, as always, in the guise of "property rights." Other great episodes include "The Inner Light" about living an alternative life and facing the end of existence; "Darmok" about communication across languages and cultures; and "Chain of Command," which focused on torture and its physical and psychological effects. Outstanding dramas, every one.
162
I'm not signing up for CBS' all access. Not for one show, not for one season. My cable subscription drags enough of my hard earned dollars, why would I pay for a single network subscription?
83
What a different time. We used to arrange our schedule to be home for TNG episodes. If you missed one, you couldn’t see it until the rerun season. 
67
The rubes will buy anything.
6
We need a spinoff where a buffoonish Trump like captain , with the avarice and lechery of a Ferangi, runs around the Galaxy screechng MOFGA "Make our Federation Great Again". Slapping tariffs on the Vulcans our oldest ally and constantly being interviewed by the Federation's silly vision of Hannity and Fox. He will also hyper tweet from his hibernation cocoon.
82
I'll give it a chance -- but I'm not really excited. I love the old TNG and watch old episodes on CBS All Access frequently, even my dad has started watching them with me! Discovery has been a big disappoint along with the JJ Abrams films, so I'm not really hopeful that 'Picard' will be any better.
5
Breakout star - A dog named No.1
65
Although i love anything trekkie, i will not be watching,fed up with new series starting and the plug being pulled after first series.
6
@Gerry :
The article states its been renewed for a second series and possibly a third.....Patrick Stewart has enough star power to keep it going (I hope!)
34
I'd watch Patrick Stewart even in a mindless sitcom. Thank goodness I don't have to and he's not out selling life insurance or Pepsi during the SuperBowl
Thank you Jean Luc for preserving our fond memories....
Now, maybe we can convince him to run against a certain alien (or exotic disease) from Kentucky who's invaded the US Senate.
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@Charl He was great in Blunt Talk and as the voice of head of the CIA in Family Guy,
12
They should change it's name to Star Chek. The only franchise that has more longevity; Marilyn Monroe.
4
I'll go along with everyone who points out this requires yet another streaming service. Love to see it but I'll pass on CBS All Access. Disappointing.
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@PaulaC. Oh hey look, another comment that isn't adding to the discussion. Guess what? To get good art, we have to pay for it.
20
@Riggs Cable TV and movies were not free Riggs. Now having to buy different streaming services for different shows adds up.
22
@PaulaC. Give it a try. Star Trek Discovery also on CBS is excellent in my opinion and worth it.
12
I'm a devout Trekker, but some of the series are better left in my memory bank where I can think back on them fondly without actually watching them.
For example: Deep Space Nine had some interesting concepts and challenges when it came out, and I remembered the show as being thoughtful and fun. (I especially liked the humble/arrogant tailor who was a spy.) But the other day I cringed though a couple DS9 episodes on BBC TV. Best left in memory.
Nevertheless, I'll be rooting for Picard, though I am not signing up for another subscription service.
28
I know this has nothing to do with the new Star Trek program--Sue me, sue me, what can you do me (credit to Guys & Dolls). If you LOVE Patrick Stewart watch the episode of Ricky Gervais' "Extras" in which he appears. He is marvelously funny!!!
23
Picard/Riker 2020
"Make it so!"
75
Interesting to see a different critical take on this series. I had just finished a scathing, absolute blistering review of Picard from Entertainment Weekly. They couldn’t say enough bad about the vision, the dialogue, and the lack of plot.
I’m not sure it’s worth another subscription fee to see which review is correct.
8
@Ken C the first episode is reintroducing characters giv it a few episodes.
9
"The Star Trek franchise's most popular character"? Sorry folks, but that's Mr Spock.
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@A Yank in the UK
My husband would argue, Seven of Nine.
26
@A Yank in the UK
Or the Tribbles!
Spock first, with Picard and Guinan running close seconds.
23
Proud my daughter Rachel Fannan sings the Blue Skies!
24
Why do you have to belittle the Next Generation series in order to review this one? Large budgets gave us the muddle that is Star Trek: Discovery. And may I add: Brent Spiner is a fine actor, all of Stewart's equal, and there were many fine actors in the Next Generation series.
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@tanstaafl
I actually thought the comments about the Next Generation were spot on. The first season was dreadful. It really didn't hit its stride until the third season. There were some very good episodes and some lesser episodes.
Picard, Data and Worf were an interesting team Crusher, Riker and Wesley were expendable.
37
One thing that's changed since the 1980s... the original TNG was shown in the UK on the BBC but I was disappointed to find today that the new series will only be shown on Amazon Prime (which does sound a little like a lesser planet in the Star Trek universe).
I was so looking forward to this series because of Picard and the reviews I've seen so far, but I don't want to pay for another streaming channel that I barely have time to watch. Oh well... I'll have to make do with the TNG reruns for now.
20
This plot is nonsense for multiple reasons. The writers clearly lacked a basic grasp of the setting facts or failed to think through what they were writing --or both.
* There's no reason for Starfleet to be building ships at Utopia Planitia or anywhere else to conduct an evacuation of the Romulus system when there are countless Federation freighters and transports available, as well as civilian vessels that could be contracted for the task. The Ferengi would also happily allow their extensive fleet of trading and transport vessels to be hired out to do the job.
* Even if additional ships are needed, there are multiple boneyards of decommissioned ships that could be repaired enough to serve as simple civilian ferries. Those which can't be repaired on site could be serviced at any nearby shipyard facility and not need to use a Starfleet facility at all let alone a central one like Utopia Planitia.
* The Romulan Star Empire spans many star systems itself and has enough of a space navy to defend it and enough of a transport fleet to keep it operating. They could accomplish the evacuation themselves with minimal help or even no assistance at all.
* Regardless of who evacuates them, there is zero need whatsoever for the Federation to take in any of them. The RSE has enough planets to absorb the population of two worlds with minimal if any strain. There are also more than enough unpopulated yet inhabitable planets within Romulan reach that they could claim a few for the task.
25
@DM504 Hey, thanks for all the spoilers! Actually, I saw where you were going with it, and blew off reading, but nice try.
37
Interesting comment that Stewart could be a Democratic party contender. Stewart is Labour party and a socialist, and therefore well to the left of Bernie and crew. I last saw him outside of Downing Street on an anti Brexit. He is 79, almost 80.
A hero on the deck of the Enterprise; a hero in real life.
208
I'd love to see this, but I'm not paying $15 for a broadcast service that has only one or two things I'd be interested in. Too bad.
34
@rbyteme but would you pay $15 to watch it all in one month once it has run it's full season and can be binge watched?
44
@rbyteme: The cost of subscribing to a wide range of broadcast services is onerous. So now I only subscribe to one: Sling TV Blue so that I can watch Rachel Maddow on MSNBC. I'll just have to forego all the other fine programming out there.
8
@SpeedyTomato That is my usual model for web TV. Works for me! On some platforms, you might be able to get a one week trial and zip through them for free.
11
Star Trek: Picard is FANTASTIC! It is everything I hoped it would be and more in terms of pacing, plot, and visuals. Some people may not like the slow start of the show but to me, taking time to slowly roll out a story is important. Picard isn't a young many anymore and he a richer, deeper character than he was when we first met him. He has lived a long and dynamic life and to expect us to jump out into the universe with him phasers blasting isn't at all in tune with the character arc of Picard. To those who refuse to pay for CBS All Access, please reconsider. A subscrption for month is less than a cheeseburger. I am def enjoying this more than any burger I've ever had. Make it so and engage! LLAP
60
@Mike Khorshidianzadeh I didn't bite for Discovery (which I finally did binge watch on Netflix while on vacation to Cancun).
Picard on the other hand is more than enough for me to justify paying for All Access.
19
I liked TOS and TNG when they first aired, but I wouldn't call myself a trekkie..If you can try AllAccess for one week free why not, stream all the episodes and then cancel. Looking over the offerings I see no reason to subscribe for one show.
8
@alocksley you will likely need to wait 10 weeks to do so; my understanding is that there will only be one episode per week - probably to prevent exactly what you prescribe!
5
Thanks to Mike Hale for telling the truth about Next Generation. For those of us who grew up on the original series -- well, who enjoyed it's too-short run -- Next Gen was a poor replacement, Picard notwithstanding.
"“Next Generation” put out mostly 26-episode seasons from 1987 to 1994, back in the day when ambient mediocrity went along with bulk production and modest budgets"
3
@DD ... The third season of the Original Series was generally bad, though. That third season was made after Gene Roddenberry stepped down and Paramount brought in Saturday Morning TV guru Fred Freiberger to run Star Trek.
"Next Generation" was in my opinion at least as good as the Original Series, especially in its third and fourth seasons (it did take quite a while to find its footing.) Those days of "ambient mediocrity" gave us some of the best television ever, such as "China Beach" and "The Wonder Years". "Next Generation" wasn't perfect, but better science fiction shows are few and far between.
36
@DD that's an interesting take. I was born in the mid-80s and grew up on TNG; I'll take it 100/100 times over TOS.
Of course, today it looks campy and some episodes are virtually unwatchable. But, there is a theme throughout (especially seasons 3-7) that ties it all together so nicely. TNG gave me my perspective on the world and while many would call me idealistic today, I don't mind that. It's good to have ideals! We should strive to better ourselves and overcome the arbitrary lines of differences we place on one another. TNG helped me see that at a young age, despite the low budget (it was syndicated after all!)
34
I like Discovery. I didn’t think I would, but I like the characters. They drew me in. I would of liked to see the lead remain a captain, as I felt that is a minority and a woman was great tv and what we need more of. Although the actress is still a lead in the show I wish the character would of remain a captain. The change in rank kind of lessens the characters role in my mind...
I liked Picard in the old series and that really drew me in to Star Trek...I know Patrick Stewart will be great in the new series as well.
25
I watched it this morning while on the treadmill. It was amazing. Also, please stop with the curmudgeonly hate on CBS offering Picard through a pay service. If you don't like it, don't subscribe. I thought about subscribing for Discovery, but heard the show wasn't that great, so I didn't. However, when Picard was announced, I had a sense it would be good to great b/c of Sir Patrick Stewart and scratches the nostalgia itch, so I subscribed. And, while watching Picard I saw ads for other CBS All Access shows that seem interesting, so maybe the subscription will be worth it. Or, maybe I will simply cancel it at the end of the Picard series and re-subscribe when season 2 starts. The bottom line is that nobody really watches broadcast TV anymore b/c the content, which has to comply with FCC regulations, doesn't come close to what you can get from streaming services (including pay cable networks like HBO and Showtime). And, it is just more convenient for me to watch shows/movies on my device wherever I am whenever I want to. CBS is simply trying to stay relevant. Relax and stop yearning for yesteryear. Things change.
54
Absolutely cannot wait to see this, super trekkie! Love Picard! M
17
I will not pay CBS no matter how good Picard may prove to be.
32
@luther Your loss. This is American: you want something, you have to buy it.
13
@luther why not? Is that like saying news is free on other sites so why subscribe to the NYT? I don't get this take.
10
@Matthew
I get CBS via antenna TV. I paid for the TV and the Antenna not CBS.
9
I love TNG and I'm looking forward to this. But I have to ask why every TV critics nowadays has such unquestioning dislike of the episodic television of the 80s and 90s. Long form storytelling is great but it's not the holy grail. The way we consume media has changed with streaming and the release of whole series at once, sure, but most TV is still watched in episodes, at the end of the working day. I want something absorbing to take in on the few occasions I have time to watch. Familiar characters featuring in a story that takes one (or at most two) episodes to tell sounds like bliss to me.
103
@Mike
He was also critical of TNG in general as a sort of flawed, nearly tongue-in-cheek production. I do not remember it that way, and I don't remember many comedic moments.
TNG was no "Spaceballs".
45
@Mike Great point and TNG was, AFAIK, on the somewhat cutting edge of long form story telling in the late 80s. Cliff hanger episodes and so many great multi-part episodes. Granted, I wish they'd done a 10-parter one year, but in a world pre-DVR, what kind of sense would that make? You'd have a bewildered audience.
14
I'd love to see this series, but I refuse to pay for another streaming service in order to watch one program.
85
@mjbarr I'll be watching it when it comes out on DVD. No extra subscription needed.
11
Fans of pre-J.J. Abrams Star Trek have been dreading the arrival of "Picard," which they fear will double down on the "this is the power of math" mindlessness of CBS's Star Trek Discovery. But maybe we need bad Star Trek like "Picard" and "Discovery" to clear the decks for proper Star Trek again. I'm trying to find silver linings here ...
6
@John
I gave up on Discovery immediately after the awful premiere but more so because I was required to pay for more of that awfulness with no logical tie-in to the decade before TOS wherein it was supposedly taking place. At least JJ Abrams did the research and work that allowed me to believe that I was indeed watching Academy-era TOS characters but in a changed and somewhat darker TOS universe.
But now I’m curious; how is “the power of math” ever “mindless”? It certainly requires a mind to do math and if a show is celebrating math and science, as Star Trek has always done, how is this particular aspect bad? The “Blingons”, as my cheeky little sister calls the Klingons of Discovery, are bad but the power of math?
14
@left coast finch
These guys do a better job of criticizing the writing in Star Trek Discovery, including the "power of math" line: https://youtu.be/5SHhySoXDcA
@left coast finch
"This is the power of math" is one of Ensign Tilley's more cringeworthy lines in Season 2. I couldn't post a YouTube link for you, so go ahead and watch Red Letter Media's review of STD season 2 on YouTube for a comprehensive critique of STD.
1
Star Trek: The Next Generation was the TV series that really shaped my formative early adolescent years. Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a vivid teaching figure for me- I cannot wait to watch the episode tonight!
70
@Tulip549 I loved the TV show as well. There were a number of fantastic episodes - Inner Light, Q Who, Best of Both Worlds, Yesterday's Enterprise, Lower Decks, All Good Things ...
I probably won't be able to subscribe to CBS all access due to personal budget reasons, but if the episodes can be purchased at some point, I probably will sometime.
18
I watched it this morning and it was nice to see recognizable faces and to try and figure out where the plot is going. I have an idea but I’m keeping that to myself. But in these times we are living in, the comfort of seeing Picard and Data soothes the anxiety I am living through.
109
@Suburbs
I’m wondering if there’s a small tie-in to the Kelvin-universe/JJ Abrams movie with the mention of a star exploding and a dying empire. This could very well be the Prime-universe side of the supernova that destroyed Romulus. That would be fascinating to see.
Spock was still alive during TNG times and later sacrificed his life, as it would have appeared to the Prime-universe, in an attempt to prevent the supernova from engulfing Romulus. Such an easy and wholly logical way to tie together currently disparate parts of the franchise split into two separate entities (Paramount Studios/movie franchise and CBS/television franchise) by the greed of oligarchic owners.
20
Can't wait to see the first episode, although I'm a little apprehensive to read that the show is a "modern animal" and about some of the themes apparently explored. Now more than ever, we need shows which (like TNG did so well) allow us to imagine a future where humanity has gotten it more right than wrong.
As an aside, I was glad to see that Santiago Cabrera snagged a role; I loved him on Salvation.
25
@Kristin
Agreed.
Enough with the dystopian darkness that’s been all the rage since Voyager signed off. I refuse to watch much modern sci-fi and certainly most of the dark and violent fantasies out there when that can all be had simply consuming the day’s news. I want an escape to a bright and hopeful future, not a plunge into the worst nightmare possible.
I’ll stick with Picard because it’s Patrick Stewart but I’ll stop paying if it’s all doom and gloom without the hope for and roadmap to a collective humanist future that made Star Trek so beloved and is so necessary in today’s world.
And shame on CBS for putting what has always been a free American institution behind a pay wall. America needs Star Trek on broadcast TV, free and now more than ever.
218
@left coast finch WELL SAID on all counts!
More than a tad ironic that one particular University has a media/coding lab that has, ALLEGEDLY, broken the CBS All Access paywall expressly to view this show for free. Clearly not part of the better, moral humanity Gene Roddenberry hoped for.
14
@Drutas Huh? Roddenberry's future was one where money wasn't relevant. So everything being free due to abundance is the utopia that is Star Trek.
10